Book Review: When We Fell Apart by Soon Wiley @PenguinRandomHouseCA @DuttonBooks #WhenWeFellApart #partner #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger #booksonthebookshelf

PUBLISHER: Dutton

PUBLICATION DATE: April 26th, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to the amazing people at Penguin Random House Canada for reaching out to me about this novel and for gifting me a physical copy of the book to read and share my review.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When the Seoul police inform Min that his girlfriend Yu-jin has committed suicide, he’s sure it can’t be true. She was successful, ambitious, happy, just on the cusp of graduating from university and claiming the future she’d always dreamed of.

Min, on the other hand, born to an American father and Korean mother, has never felt quite the same certainty as Yu-jin about his life’s path. After growing up in California, where he always felt “too Korean” to fit in, he’s moved to Seoul in the hope that exploring his Korean heritage will help him find a sense of purpose. And when he meets Yu-jin, little does he know that their carefree relationship will set off a chain of events with tragic consequences for them both.

Devastated by Yu-jin’s death, Min throws himself into finding out why she could have secretly wanted to die. Or did she? With a controlling and powerful government official father, and a fraught friendship with her alluring and destructive roommate So-ra, Yu-jin’s life was much more complex than she chose to reveal to Min. And the more he learns about her, the more he begins to doubt he ever really knew her at all.

As Yu-jin’s story–a fraught exploration of selfhood, coming-of-age, and family expectations–collides with Min’s, the result is an engrossing page-turner that poses powerful, urgent questions about cultural identity, family bonds, secrets, and what it truly means to belong.

……

MY REVIEW:

Powerful, moving, and immersive. Three words that I would use to describe this book. I love how this story is written in dual POV’s. Some chapters are told from Min’s POV and other chapters are told from Yu-jin’s POV. It added to the character development and helped us as the reader to identify with the characters and understand who they were as people.

A story of self-discovery and personal growth. Born to an American father and a Korean mother, Min hasn’t always felt as though he “fit in”. He felt too Korean, or not Korean enough, and when he moves to Korea he meets Yu-jin. After her sudden death, he tries to uncover what happened and why she would take her own life. Secrets are exposed, discoveries are made, and the storyline will have you fully immersed and hooked as you flip through the pages until the very end.

A book that I would highly recommend that you read. This was a fantastic debut novel and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

……

MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Blog Blast – The Last to Disappear by Jo Spain @QuercusBooks @SpainJoanne #TheLastRoDisappear #bookblog #bookblogger #bookreview #bookreviewer #blogblast #booksonthebookshelf

PUBLISHER: Quercus Books

PUBLICATION DATE: May 12th, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to the publisher, Quercus Books, for inviting me to be a part of the blog blast for Jo Spain’s latest novel, The Last to Disappear.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A small town. A frozen lake. Three missing women. One body.

When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister’s body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there’s more to Vicky’s case than meets the eye.

As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It’s not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.

On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away. 

……

MY REVIEW:

Jo Spain has done it again with another edge-of-your-seat, addictive read that will have you hooked as you become immersed in the story. I have read novels previously by Jo Spain and have loved each and every one of them so I was thrilled to get a copy of this one to read and share my thoughts with everyone. 

There are so many secrets and lies going on and I loved that about this book. I enjoyed how it kept me guessing throughout, as I was trying to determine what was going to happen next. Full of dark suspense and mystery, this book will have you hooked. A definite must read that you need to get your hands on.

I really enjoyed the no-nonsense character Agatha. She was the detective on the job and was one of the main characters in the book. She was a very likable character and I enjoyed reading about her as she tries to uncover the mystery of what happened. I can would love to read more about her character. 

Well done Jo. I am looking forward to seeing what you come out with next.

……

MY RATING: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak @Flatironbooks #HiddenPictures #booksonthebookshelf #partner #bookblog #bookblogger #bookreview #bookreviewer

PUBLISHER: Flatiron Books

PUBLICATION DATE: May 10th, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to the wonderful Flatiron Books for gifting me a physical ARC copy of Hidden Pictures to read and share my review with everyone.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Fresh out of rehab, Mallory Quinn takes a job in the affluent suburb of Spring Brook, New Jersey as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy.

Mallory immediately loves this new job. She lives in the Maxwell’s pool house, goes out for nightly runs, and has the stability she craves. And she sincerely bonds with Teddy, a sweet, shy boy who is never without his sketchbook and pencil. His drawings are the usual fare: trees, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman’s lifeless body.

As the days pass, Teddy’s artwork becomes more and more sinister, and his stick figures steadily evolve into more detailed, complex, and lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to suspect these are glimpses of an unsolved murder from long ago, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force lingering in the forest behind the Maxwell’s house.

With help from a handsome landscaper and an eccentric neighbor, Mallory sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy—while coming to terms with a tragedy in her own past—before it’s too late.

……

MY REVIEW:

Addictive, creepy, bone-chilling, and edge-of-your-seat thrills as you read this book. I couldn’t put this book down and I LOVED it! As I read along there were times I got goosebumps and chills as I read along and followed Mallory on her eerie experiences of being a babysitter for young Teddy and his family. Mallory and Teddy get along wonderfully from the very beginning and quickly become close. It is sweet to read about their connection and friendship and reading along as it blossoms. But after Teddy’s drawings begin to freak her out more and more, Mallory finds herself wondering just what the heck is going on. Why would young, sweet Teddy be drawing such dark, ominous photos? Something strange is clearly going on, so Mallory then embarks on finding out just what is happening. There are many different twists and turns in this novel, and many things you will not be able to figure out, and I loved that about this book. It kept me on my toes and kept me guessing.

I loved Mallory as a main character. She has a rough past, and is always striving to better herself and she is a very likable character. You cannot help but fall in love with her as you follow her on her journey. A journey that also includes self-discovery, a budding romance, and how to trust others. I loved the dark and eerie vibes of this book as well and the PICTURES. I LOVED the pictures in this novel. Not only do we get to read about young Teddy’s drawings but his drawings are also included in this novel for the reader to view. I loved this about the book, it was a nice touch and I enjoyed flipping through them as I followed the storyline.

And that ending! Wow! I did not see that coming! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I got near the end but all the endings I had envisioned in my head were not even close to how it ended and wow was I surprised! I absolutely love everything about this book and cannot recommend it enough!

RUN, don’t walk, to get your hands on your own copy!!

……

MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Book Review: The Night Shift by Alex Finlay @MinotaurBooks @StMrtinsPress #TheNightShift #booksof2022 #bookblogger #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookreview #partner #netgalley #booksonthebookshelf #thrillersof2022

PUBLISHER: Minotaur Books

PUBLICATION DATE: March 1st, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

……

Thank you Minotaur Books for the eARC of this novel via NetGalley.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls working the night shift are attacked. Only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again.

Fifteen years later, in the same town, four teenage employees working late at an ice cream store are attacked, and again only one makes it out alive.

Both surviving victims recall the killer speaking only a few final words… “Goodnight, pretty girl.”

In the aftermath, three lives intersect: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive her tragedy; the brother of the original suspect, who’s convinced the police have it wrong; and the FBI agent, who’s determined to solve both cases. On a collision course toward the truth, all three lives will forever be changed, and not everyone will make it out alive.

……

MY REVIEW:

After reading and loving Alex Finlay’s last thriller, Every Last Fear, I was thrilled to read this latest thriller. And oh the nostalgia of the 90s – Blockbuster! I enjoyed the diverse characters that we are introduced too in this book and learning about their personalities. Two different crimes years part, one sole survivor from each. What set these two survivors apart from the rest who weren’t so lucky to survive that night? Did the survivors have similarities in common? Why them?

I enjoyed reading about the lead heroine FBI Agent Keller. She was a badass woman with a lead role in the novel and I enjoyed her character in the book and reading about her involvement in the case. There were many twists and turns in this novel to keep you hooked and flipping the pages, you will find yourself immersed in this novel from the moment you begin reading. 

A good novel that I would definitely recommend! I am already looking forward to your next novel Alex!

……

MY RATING: 4/5 stars

Book Review: The Deepest of Secrets (Rockton #7) by Kelley Armstrong @MinotaurBooks @KelleyArmstrong @netgalley #5starreads #TheDeepestofSecrets #bookreviewer #bookreview #bookblog #bookblogger #booksonthebookshelf #booksof2022 #netgalley

PUBLISHER: Minotaur Books

PUBLICATION DATE: February 15th, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the eARC of this novel to read and review.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s not always easy to live in the hidden town of Rockton, something Detective Casey Duncan knows firsthand. Tucked away in the Yukon wildernee community survives—and thrives—because the residents’ many secrets stay just that—secret.

But what happens when these secrets start to come out? Overnight, no one is safe. It’s not a question of if your secret will come out—but when.

Casey and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, need to find the culprit while protecting those who have been thrust into the spotlight. For a place built on privacy and new beginnings, Rockton isn’t handling these revelations very well. People are turning on one another, and when one of the loudest complainers turns up barely alive, it’s clear that their trickster is actually a murderer.

The threat of exposure is reaching its breaking point, and no one knows what’s going to happen next. 

……

MY REVIEW:

I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series and was thrilled to learn about the latest novel in the series, The Deepest of Secrets. So of course as soon as I got my hands on a copy of this novel I began to read it. Of course I was also not disappointed.

I love Detective Casey Duncan and Sheriff Eric Dalton’s characters. I was a huge fan of them both from the earlier novels in the series so I was thrilled when they officially became a couple together. I have enjoyed reading about their relationship and how they make it work inside the town of Rockton, where everyone is there for a reason. All residents in the town of Rockton are there for a reason – they have secrets from their past, crimes they have committed, that landed them there in the town of Rockton. Everyone in Rockton has their secrets but the residents don’t know what others’ secrets are and they all live relatively peaceful. Of course the town does have their fair share of crime inside the town of Rockton, but that’s what Casey and Eric are for. I loved following along and learning about all the characters in the storyline and inside Rockton. They all work together to make Rockton as peaceful and normal as they can, and deal with things as they come up.

In this latest novel, The Deepest of Secrets, somehow someone has learned about all the residents secrets and why they are in the town of Rockton in the first place, and are somehow spreading those secrets throughout the town. Things in Rockton are crumbling, and Casey and Eric have to find out who is causing all this turmoil and tearing their town apart. The Council is wanting to shut down the town of Rockton for good but Casey and Duncan are trying their best to save their town.

A definite must read if you have been following along with the town of Rockton series. If you are new to reading about the town of Rockton I cannot recommend this series enough, you are truly missing out on an addictive, compelling, entertaining series and you will fall in love with this series, the town and it’s residents. Although I think you can read this book as a standalone, as there is plenty of backstory given about many of the characters in the book and it’s residents, I highly recommend that you go back and read this series in order from the very first novel, finishing with this book in the series.

I have loved reading about the town of Rockton and learning about all of the residents, their secrets, and following their journeys, and am sad to learn that this is the last novel in the series. I could and would definitely read more books in this series, and wish this series would go on forever, it’s that good!

Well done Kelley Armstrong!

……

MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Book Review: Woman Last Seen by Adele Parks @htp_books @adeleparks @netgalley #booksof2022 #bookblogger #bookblog #bookreviewer #bookreview #booksonthebookshelf #netgalley

PUBLISHER: Mira

PUBLICATION DATE: February 1st, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this novel.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Leigh Fletcher: happily married stepmom to two gorgeous boys goes missing on Monday. Her husband, Mark, says he knows nothing of her whereabouts. She went to work and just never came home. Their family is shattered.

Kai Janssen: married to wealthy Dutch businessman Daan and vanishes the same week. Kai left their luxurious penthouse and glamorous world without a backward glance. She seemingly evaporated into thin air. Daan is distraught.

Detective Clements knows that people disappear all the time—far too frequently. Most run away from things, some run toward and others are taken but find their way back. A sad few never return. These two women are from very different worlds. Their disappearances are unlikely to be connected. And yet, at a gut level, the detective believes they might be.

How could these women walk away from their families, husbands and homes willingly? Clements is determined to unearth the truth, no matter how shocking and devastating it may be.

……

MY REVIEW:

An interesting read that had me hooked from the beginning. Two women, seemingly happy in their lives with their husbands and families, just up and disappear. Both their husbands are distraught and want answers. Where did their wives go, and why did they suddenly disappear?

I enjoyed reading about both Leigh and Kai and their lives with their families. Some parts of their life was similar but there were also many differences, so it was fun to compare the two and learn about who they are and what makes them who they are.

There were many twists and turns in this novel, some I figured out and some kept me guessing which I really enjoyed. I was hooked to the very end, when I flipped the last page. An enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend.

……

MY RATING: 4/5 stars

Book Review: The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf @hgudenkauf @parkrowbooks #TheOvernightGuest #booksof2022 #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger #booksonthebookshelf

PUBLISHER: Park Row

PUBLICATION DATE: January 25th, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to Park Row for the eARC of this novel via NetGalley.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

She thought she was alone…

True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn’t mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she’s retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace.

As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls—haunted by secrets of her own. Then she discovers a small child in the snow just outside. Bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to search for answers. But soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them.

……

MY REVIEW:

I am a huge fan of novels by Heather Gudenkauf so of course I was thrilled to get a copy of her latest, The Overnight Guest. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the plot and reading along, learning about Wylie Lark and her life. I really enjoyed reading the alternate POV’s, parts from Wylie’s POV and then parts of someone else’s POV from their life. There are many twists and turns and shocking revelations that I did not see coming and I absolutely loved it!

A fast paced novel that will have you flipping the pages to see what is going to happen next. Who is the child that Wylie found outside in the middle of a snow storm, in the middle of nowhere? Where did the child come from? Why is the child alone? A gripping thriller that you will devour!

……

MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Audiobook Review: A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham @MacmillanAudio @svwillingham @netgalley #AFlickerInTheDark #audiobook #audiobookreview #bookblogger #bookblog #booksonthebookshelf #netgalley #booksof2022

PUBLISHER: Macmillan Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: January 11th, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this early access to the audiobook via NetGalley.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, Chloe’s father had been arrested as a serial killer and promptly put in prison. Chloe and the rest of her family were left to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the aftermath.

Now 20 years later, Chloe is a psychologist in private practice in Baton Rouge and getting ready for her wedding. She finally has a fragile grasp on the happiness she’s worked so hard to get. Sometimes, though, she feels as out of control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. And then a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, and that terrifying summer comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, and seeing parallels that aren’t really there, or for the second time in her life, is she about to unmask a killer?

……

MY REVIEW:

Wow! An amazing debut thriller! Addictive, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat entertainment! I loved this audiobook from the very start. There are a lot of twists and turns, and the story is full of suspense and thrills that will have you hooked as you listen along. I really enjoyed the narrator of this book as well, their voice was very easy to listen to and it worked very well with the story.

I really liked Chloe’s character and learning about her past that has made her who she is today. She had a troubled past and her life hasn’t been easy, especially after her father had been arrested as a serial killer and is now in prison. When many teens in the area suddenly appear to go missing Chloe tries to uncover just what is in fact going on. It is eerily similar to what happened all those years ago. Could it just be an uncanny coincidence?

A fabulous novel that I really enjoyed and I highly recommend!

……

MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Book Review: The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton @KJHAuthor @netgalley #TheExHusband #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger #booksof2022 #booksonthebookshelf

PUBLISHER: Graydon House

PUBLICATION DATE: January 18th, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

……

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this novel via NetGalley.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s an offer she can’t refuse…and can’t escape.

True: Charlotte has an unsavory past. She married the wrong man, got caught up in his con artist games, took what wasn’t hers. She got out, though: divorced Sam, started fresh.

False: She left him before things went too far. Nothing bad happened.

True: Sam is missing, and before he disappeared, he left cryptic messages about someone threatening him—someone who has been threatening Charlotte, too.

True: She’s on the straight and narrow, has accepted a job as a personal assistant for an engagement party on board a private luxury cruise ship, the Cleobella.

False: No one on board knows about her past, and she’s far away from anyone who means her harm.

As the Cleobella sails through its glittering destinations—the Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago—increasingly sinister events haunt the guests, and the turquoise waves and sun-drenched beaches give way to something darker. Someone knows what Charlotte did. Is it the blushing bride? The seemingly placid mother-in-law? Or the mysterious heiress?

Someone knows, and someone wants revenge—before the ship reaches its final port. 

……

MY REVIEW:

This isn’t the first book I have read by Karen Hamilton so of course I was thrilled to get my hands on her latest novel, The Ex-Husband. I was hooked on this book from the very start. There are so many twists and turns that you won’t see coming, and I was flipping through the pages to see what was going to happen next.

Charlotte has a past – a past she has been trying to move on from and start anew. But sometimes no matter how hard you try to run away from your past it always has a way of sneaking back up on you. This is the case for Charlotte. Not everything is as it first seems, and you will be guessing the entire way as you read this book. 

A book that I highly recommend that you read.

……

MY RATING: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Somebody’s Home by Kaira Rouda @KairaRouda @netgalley #SomebodysHome #SomebodysHomeBook #bookblog #bookblogger #bookreview #bookreviewer #booksonthebookshelf #netgalley #booksof2022

PUBLISHER: Thomas & Mercer

PUBLICATION DATE: January 18th, 2022

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book via Netgalley.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A quiet neighborhood. A lovely home. A promising new beginning. In a heartbeat everything can change in this propulsive novel of suspense by USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda.

Julie Jones has left her suffocating marriage. With her teenage daughter, Jess, she’s starting over. Their new house in Oceanside is the first step toward a new life. Even if it does come with the unexpected. The previous owners, a pastor and his wife, have left something—or rather someone—behind…

Tom Dean has a bitter hatred for the father who considers him a lost cause, and for the woman who’s moved into their family’s house. The only home he’s ever known. He’s never going to leave. She thinks he’ll be gone in three days, but Tom has the perfect plan.

For a newly single mother and her daughter, a fresh start is the beginning of a nightmare. Before the weekend is over, somebody is going to get exactly what they deserve.

……

MY REVIEW:

Wow what a thriller of a novel! Julie Jones and her daughter move into their new home where they should feel safe and secure. However, Tom has other plans. What plans does he have in store for Julie and her teenage daughter Jess? You’ll have to read this thriller to find out!

I enjoyed this novel from beginning to end! There were several nail-biting chapters and I found myself flipping through the pages to see what was going to happen next. Many shocking revelations and secrets, and OMG moment that will have you thinking long after you’ve finished this novel. I was hooked from the very beginning. I highly recommend this novel.

Way to go Kaira on another hit of a novel. I look forward to seeing what novel you come out with next!

……

MY RATING: 4/5 stars